(Photo : Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla)
Donald Trump's legal battle over allegations of hush money payments has hit a new snag. The former president's criminal trial in New York, originally scheduled to commence on March 25, has been pushed back. Judge Juan Manuel Merchan has granted a 30-day postponement, which could set the trial's start date to no earlier than April 15. This decision arrived after an extensive evidence inflow from an older federal probe, reported to exceed 100,000 pages.
Why the Delay?
The last-minute evidence poses challenges for Trump's defense team. They have been bombarded with many documents that require time to review thoroughly. Pushback from Trump's lawyers has focused on the need for more preparation time and stems from a broader assertion. They argue that the case against their client is unfounded and are thus moving for its dismissal.
Judge Merchan's rescheduling permits a hearing on March 25, which aims to sift through the circumstances leading to the evidence delay. Identifying the responsible parties, if any, and evaluating potential harms inflicted by the late disclosure of documents to the judge's priorities. He seeks transparency over document requests and delivery times and exchanges between Manhattan's district attorney and the U.S. attorney's office from the 2018 investigation.
Legal Tensions Rise Amid Last-Minute Evidence Handover
Frustration looms on all sides as the late production of evidence clouds the case's timeline. Neither the Manhattan district attorney's office nor Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, have commented on the recent developments. However, the scenario significantly disrupts what was expected to be the trailblazer among Trump's multiple criminal indictments heading to trial.
As Trump positions himself for another presidential run in 2024, his legal team is adamant that the courtroom should not distract from the campaign trail. Their demands have been broad and assertive- a 90-day delay extending the trial into early summer, barring particular witness testimonies, and even absolving Trump of the criminal charges against him.
How Prepared Are the Prosecution and Defense?
However, the stages were set for a March trial. Prosecutors indicated readiness for the initial date but have acquiesced to the delay, prioritizing due diligence and ensuring the defense has ample time to digest the newly obtained materials. The court's consent to a 30-day adjournment allows legal machinations to play out, with a potential new trial date pending the outcome of the scheduled March hearing.
Judge Merchan's standing order remains unchanged-the involved parties must refrain from entering into any engagements until the trial concludes. While the defense now grapples with the massive compilation of evidence, the contents of some documents from the U.S. attorney's office might prove advantageous for their case.
Evidence Issue Takes Center Stage
The argument at the core of the trial concerns whether Trump falsified business records to conceal payments made via his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. These payments are alleged to have been made to prevent Daniels from discussing claims of previous sexual relations with Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has entered a not-guilty plea to all 34 felony counts and denies the alleged sexual encounter. His defense maintains the payments were legitimate legal fees.
Prosecutors counter this by asserting delays have been self-inflicted, as Trump's team dallied until mid-January this year to request the complete federal case file. This move by Trump's lawyers has been scrutinized for its timing-just weeks ahead of the planned trial date.
Waiting on the Supreme Court
Another wildcard in the legal proceedings is Trump's pursuit of presidential immunity claims. If upheld by the Supreme Court during oral arguments scheduled for late April, these claims may influence the allegations and evidence presented in the hush money case.
Trump's push to halt his criminal trials amid his presidential campaign has become a recurring theme. Last month, Trump emphasized his need for delays, citing the constraint of election campaigning coinciding with court commitments. The events have cast uncertainty on this trial and the broader schedule for Trump's other pending criminal cases. All eyes are now fixed on a new trial date in mid-April or potentially later.
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